1. Pray for Open Doors – “Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving; praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word…” (Colossians 4:2-3)
- Pray that God will open doors of ministry, blessing partnerships and friendship
- Pray that those who serve will be led by the Holy Spirit and recognize open-door opportunities
- Pray that God will lead His people past barriers to hearts ready to receive His word
2. Pray for Boldness in Witness – “And pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel…” (Ephesians 6:19)
- Pray that missionaries will have boldness to overcome the fear of embarrassment or failure
- Pray that the Spirit will provide them with words that communicate effectively in other cultures and languages
- Pray against evil forces that would seek to hinder the spread of the gospel
3. Pray that God’s Word Will Spread – “Finally, brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be glorified…” (II Thessalonians 3:1)
- Pray for strength and stamina as missionaries encounter antagonistic spiritual forces (Ephesians 6:10-18)
- Pray that people will resist Satan’s plans to obstruct the spread of the gospel (James 4:7)
- Pray that God’s word will indeed spread rapidly and be honored where it goes
4. Pray for Protection – “…and pray that we will be rescued from perverse and evil men; for not all have faith.” (II Thessalonians 3:2)
- Pray that God will keep Christian workers safe from those who seek to hurt them
- Pray that God will change the hearts of those who are resistant to His Word
5. Pray for Their Ministry – “Pray…that my service for Jerusalem may prove acceptable to the saints…” (Romans 15:31)
- Pray that the missionary’s ministry and attitude will be worthy of acceptance
- Pray that colleagues and fellow believers will be supportive
6. Pray for God’s Guidance – “Pray…so that I may come to you in joy by the will of God…” (Romans 15:32)
- Pray for clear guidance from God regarding travel decisions
- Pray for necessary permissions to travel
- Pray for protection and provision during their travels
7. Pray for Refreshment – “Pray that I may… find refreshing rest in your company.” (Romans 15:32)
- Pray that God will provide opportunities for missionaries in lonely areas to spend time with other believers
- Pray that God will provide times of peace and relaxation to refresh His workers
- Pray that God will encourage missionaries with the knowledge that people back home care about their emotional well-being